Letter: Criminals, not guns, cause gun violence

Monday

Feb 17, 2014 at 1:04 AM

I recently joined Veterans for Responsible Solutions, a national constituency of retired flag officers, senior officers and former enlisted service members of the U.S. Armed Forces founded by former astronaut and Navy Capt. Mark Kelly.

With thousands of us around the country from all branches and ranks, we’re working to share our expertise with guns and experiences as vets in support of responsible gun ownership policies and measures to reduce gun violence.

I have asked this organization repeatedly what specific initiatives they propose and have yet to get a response.

Lacking any guidance, here are my thoughts: A gun is an inanimate object that has no special powers over the individual who uses it. We do not have a gun problem, we have a criminal problem, and until we seek solutions to that, all the infringements on the Second Amendment will not obtain the results sought.